A technical panel instituted to investigate the collapse of a building under construction at the Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil, has indicted all involved in the construction of the structure, including four supervising firms and the contractor.

The technical committee instituted by the university, faulted all five for professional failure and negligence, which it said was largely responsible for the collapse.

The failed structure belonging to Department of Architecture, came crumbling on the August 22, 2016, leaving three workers with varying degrees of injuries.

The panel recommended stiff sanctions including withdrawal of professional certificates of the indicted firms.The indicted firms include Poly Dimensional Projects Limited; Olkon International Limited, Remark Associates, and Mobat Quants Limited. The contractor is Shelter Resources Limited.

Presenting the outcome of its investigation to the school’s management, chairman of the panel Mr. Mansur Ahmed, posited that the committee recommended immediate disengagement of the supervising consultants from the failed building and other projects under the supervision of the firms to avoid a reoccurrence.

Ahmed hinted that after thorough forensic and structural analysis of the collapsed project, the panel discovered a deficient and poorly executed job.

According to him, “Our mandate was to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the incidence as well as to proffer recommendations that would avert future occurrence. Based on these terms of reference, the committee painstakingly undertook a thorough forensic study of the failed structure by conducting, among others, a review of available contract documents, minutes of meetings and site instructions.

“We also captured design; procurement of works and services; monitoring and supervision; consultancy services; and the unauthorised changes of hollow clay pots slabs to solid reinforced concrete slabs among others.

“ After the examination, we came to conclusion that the structure collapsed as a result of contributory negligence of the stakeholders in the project,” the committee chair stated.

The committee then recommended that the university dispenses with the services of all the consultancy firms as far as the project is concerned, and also advised the university to check the structural integrity and designs of all the buildings where these consultants were, or are involved.

Responding the vice chancellor of the university Prof. Shehu Alhaji Musa, applauded the efforts of the committee and pledged to forward the recommendations to the council for immediate action.

He remarked that the contractor of the failed building had already taken full responsibility and promised to reconstruct the building.